Book reveals iOS secret code names, including unreleased 5.1
updated 09:00 pm EST, Mon December 5, 2011
Later code names suddenly excised from book
A new edition of a book entitled iOS Forensic Analysis by Sean Morrissey reveals the secret code names of the various versions of iOS, including the as-yet-unreleased iOS 5.1. Unlike the code names of OS X, which have been generally made public since v10.2, iOS code names have been kept unpublicized and are generally used only by Apple. The code names, most of which appeared in the original edition published a year ago, seem to be based on a theme of skiing areas.
According to Morrissey's list, only one iOS codename -- "Wildcat," the name given to the iPad-only 3.2 release -- is similar to the "big wild cats" theme of Mac OS X code names. Others, such as iOS 1.0 ("Alpine") and 1.0.2 ("Heavenly"), iOS 2.1 ("Sugarbowl") iOS 3.0 ("Kirkwood"), and iOS 3.1 ("Northstar") match the names of California ski resorts. Some, like "Little Bear" (iOS 1.1) and "Big Bear," (iOS 2.0) appear to be the name of specific peaks or ski trails at resorts popular with skilled skiers.
Not all the code names are associated with California; a few, such as "Durango" (iOS 4.3) and "Telluride" (iOS 5.0) are the names of Colorado towns also associated with major ski resorts. "Baker" (iOS 4.1) probably refers to Washington State ski area Mt. Baker, while "Hoodoo" (iOS 5.1) is likely a reference to a ski resort in Sisters, Oregon. Only the code names from 4.2 onwards were previously unknown, but they continue the theme of skiing-related area names.
The code names are all associated with the specific final build numbers, though occasionally a minor build would also get a code name, such as "Snowbird" for iOS 1.1.1 and "Oktoberfest" for v1.1.2. This also occurred for iOS 4.2.5 through 4.2.10, which was assigned the code name "Phoenix."
[UPDATE] Interestingly, once the list of code names attracted attention on Mac and technology websites, the page in question (page 45) appears to have been altered in its preview on Google Books back to the way it appeared in the original version of the book (which stopped at v4.1). The one now-excised code name not already mentioned is the one for iOS 4.2, "Jasper" (again a reference to skiing, as it is a popular attraction in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada).
Other code names include "Timberline" (iOS 2.2), likely named after a ski lodge in Oregon, and "Apex" (iOS 4.0), a ski resort near Penticton, BC in Canada.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2009
Meh
I kind of preferred when the code names were secret. Not only does the code name thing mean I have to remember the right sequence for no good reason, which adds a needless extra layer of complication to technical support -- quick, which came first: Puma or Tiger? Has there been a Bobcat yet? How many versions between Tiger and Snow Leopard? -- but also: the code names just sound kind of silly. It's really almost embarrassing that they are now the official names for Mac OS X; thank goodness they aren't for iOS (yet).